RHill wrote:I still can't believe that barman lied to me when I visited the place. I bet he thought I was a right gullible tossa when I was walking around the bar smiling with my pint and taking photos.

what exactly did the chap say?? Was he a Blonde haired grumpy looker?? Because he lives above the pub..

The chap said "You're sitting on my stool!" Nah just joking. He told me that they have raised the floor in recent years so the ceiling will be lower to make it look like an old traditional pub and I said: "Really, that's fascinating, it looks lovely". Looking back, he must of thought I was a thick dopey geordie.

Also the front of the bar is different.
Another thing, i always assumed it was a samuel smiths pub back then. But the Windmill sign from the photos taken suggest otherwise.
Samuel Smiths signs always had and still have Samuel Smiths under or above the name of the pub.

My first post on here. Can't believe the amount of interest these photos have created. When I first contacted Lee I didn't think he would be that bothered about them, but I am overwhelmed by the positive feedback as they have very happy memories for me. Just wish there had been digital cameras in those days as there would have been loads more!!

Thought I would give just a little background information on the photos. I still love the show but back then it was bordering on the obsessive! I wrote to Central TV in Nottingham as soon as the series finished. Yes, wrote as this was before emails and the internet. Unthinkable now. Anyway they were fairly quick letting me know where Thornley Manor and The Barley Mow were. We found the pub and as soon as we pulled up outside I felt like I was stepping into the programme itself. I half expected the lads to come walking out of the door. We went in and eventually got talking to the owner/landlady who ran the place. All I can remember of her was she was probably in her 30s with blonde hair. She had nothing but positive comments to make about the cast esoecially Gary Holton who she called a real gent. She said when they were filming the scene where Jimmy Nail is hanging out of bedroom window, that they had to retake it numerous times due to people playing jokes on him from inside the room. One more thing I remember is looking at the window that the lads had broke with the football and seeing it hadnt been repainted, and you could still see the putty! Anyway thats about as much background info I can remember. All lovely memories which have since come back since seeing the photos again.

They are great photos you've captured. You certainly visited the place at the best time when little had changed. And to hear the owner's anecdotes when it was all fresh in her mind back then must of been really fascinating.